Trip review of Hanoi: Venturing outside the city center
Situated between the mountains of Sa Pa and the waters of Ha Long Bay, the city often serves as the primary gateway for travelers before they venture further into the country's natural landscapes.
This trip was completed in November 2025.
Following up from our prior trip to Ho Chi Minh City more than a year ago, we were once again back in Vietnam. As the nation’s capital, Hanoi offers a distinct atmosphere compared to Southern Vietnam.
Situated between the mountains of Sa Pa and the waters of Ha Long Bay, the city often serves as the primary gateway for travelers before they venture further into the country's natural landscapes. Accordingly, Hanoi is a city of significant cultural influence, and for those who have also been to Ho Chi Minh City, feels less chaotic than its southern counterpart.
Airport Lounge: SH Premium Lounge Hanoi (Noi Bai International Terminal 2)
Rating 8.2/10
Perhaps visiting without much prior expectations, this lounge impressed us with its new modern decor and spacious design. The environment feels exceptionally roomy, thanks to an open-concept layout, high ceilings, and lengthy windows. There are also plenty of power outlets and various types of seating according to guest needs.
With regards to the food and beverage options, this lounge offers decent standard as a contract lounge. The variety and presentation of the food are above average and reminded us of the Plaza Premium Lounge at Phnom Penh International Airport (before being replaced by the new Techo International Airport).
Overall, this is a respectable lounge at Hanoi Airport Terminal 2 since there are not many lounges here to start with. As a result, one thing to take note is that crowd level may get high and visitors may be asked to wait outside instead of an immediate entry.
Accommodation: InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72
Rating 7.7/10
While the historical Hoan Kiem district offers a high density of hotels, we opted to stay in the new commercial business district west of the city center. As the tallest building in Vietnam, the InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 is easily recognizable and primarily caters to corporate guests given its extensive business amenities. The nearby JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi further establishes this area as the city's core MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) hub. Interestingly, this part of the Nam Tu Liem district serves a large Korean expatriate community, much like the "Koreatown" found in District 7 of Ho Chi Minh City.
Upon arriving at the hotel, there was not much of a reception area at the ground floor. Although the actual hotel lobby is on the 62nd floor, other luxury hotels with this layout usually also include a presentable ground floor reception and concierge service counter (which seems to be lacking at InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72).
However, once you reach the 62nd floor, the interior is imposing, featuring spacious common areas and unobstructed panoramic views. Service staff are well-trained and they speak good English. We did not encounter any hiccups during check-in and information relating to our stay was communicated clearly and in a timely manner.
Guest rooms span the 63rd to 70th floors, connected by a rectangular corridor. The rooms are spacious with expansive views, as no other skyscrapers obstruct the skyline.
The interior is clean without too much adornment, and some may find the room to be a little bare. For us, what definitely need to be improved upon is the bathroom, as the décor makes it feel heavy and somewhat outdated. Room rates are around 5 million VND per night.
Overall, we think this hotel is more suited to corporate travelers due to its strategic location within a business and administrative district. For tourists who find that most of their destinations are within the historic old center of Hanoi, transportation can be inconvenient. Public transport infrastructure is lacking in Hanoi, while a taxi journey will frequently be met with congestion (and not much better alternative routes to avoid the jam).
Accommodation: PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Hanoi
Rating 7.9/10
Compared to InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 in the West Hanoi business district, PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Hanoi is located in the idyllic West Lake area. As a newly opened property, the building is fresh and impeccably clean. A notable advantage is the hotel's front porch, which provides a dedicated entryway—a rarity for many hotels along the narrow lakeside roads. This allows drivers to wait without haste, facilitating pick up and drop off with ease.
There were minor kinks, such as a lengthy wait with only staff handling check-in when we arrived. Apart from that, we believe other issues like breakfast variety and freshness of the buffet-style dishes will be easier to manage once occupancy level stabilises.
The surrounding environment is serene, characterized by low-rise buildings that offer an escape from Hanoi’s typical bustle. Despite the tranquility, the main tourist district in the old town is only a short and straight drive away, making this location more strategic than InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72.
As a serviced apartment, the rooms are very large and can accommodate families with up to three-bedroom options. We booked a more premium 2-bedroom unit this time, which includes a generous living area and a practical kitchen.
The interior decor and furnishing have a consistent modern style. The lake-facing view was breathtaking; every bedroom offered stunning, unblocked vistas of West Lake, which were particularly impressive at sunset. 2-bedroom premier with lake view is around 6.5 million VND per night.
All that being said, the main reason why we did not rate this hotel a higher score is because of the bug situation we experienced during our stay. We cannot be sure if it was simply an isolated case of having these small flies in our room, or if it is a common occurrence of most accommodations there due to the proximity to the lake. We hope the hotel management can address this issue effectively and ensure these flies do not find their way into the guest rooms because we find this hotel to be of compelling value.
Dining: Untitled Espresso Bar
Rating 8.2/10
This is a hidden gem in our opinion, being in an apartment near the end of a quiet alleyway. The small seating area creates a private, cozy experience. While the space can be rather intimate, we find that there is no pressure to start a conversation if we simply want to enjoy the space quietly.
Given Hanoi's big coffee scene, (for us) visiting this home café is a refreshing alternative to Hanoi's more commercial shops. Stepping into the front garage and ending up at the café area on the second floor is like being invited into someone’s home. Customers will also likely be greeted by the resident dogs who are well-loved and not shy about interacting with everyone. Many interesting and colourful lamps can be found throughout the space.
The actual bean selection offers a good variety, with a preference towards lighter roasts. Many of these are seasonal, with the pour-overs served with cards describing the bean and brew method. To go along with the drinks, the café also sell a few food items like croissants which surprisingly do not pale in comparison with the coffee.
Dining: Xe Chi Kitchen
Rating 8.0/10
Vegetarian cuisine is well-established in Hanoi, and Xe Chi Kitchen is another standout tucked away at the corner of a street near West Lake. It is right near to the famous Intercontinental Ha Noi Westlake, so it is not exactly hard to find.
To us, this is yet another hidden gem as this warm cosy eatery accommodates only about a dozen customers at any one time. Managed by a young team, the space feels energetic and truly comes alive in the evening with its moody lighting when juxtaposed with the dimly-lit street outside.
What is interesting about Xe Chi Kitchen is that they only offer a very limited menu. This probably allows them to specialise and concentrate on doing a few dishes exceptionally well. Many of the patrons order either the ramen or the pasta. The ramen flavors are balanced, and the presentation is highly refined. We can also tell that the side ingredients were meticulously prepared.
While perhaps not worth a dedicated trip from Hanoi city center, we highly recommend this casual dinner spot for those already in the West Lake area.
Dining: Xofa Cafe & Bistro
Rating 7.8/10
Undeniably the most touristy place in this review, Xofa Café & Bistro is a popular dining establishment located at the Hanoi Train Street. Many restaurants and cafes are dotted along this street, due to the proximity to the iconic railway tracks that cut through the city.
Housed in a colonial villa, the entire compound with its courtyard feels like a French countryside, exuding an old-world charm. There are al fresco seating area, and also indoor seating on the first and second floors of the villas. It operates 24 hours a day, making it a popular hangout spot for the local youths.
We were seated indoor on the second floor. The interior features pretty windows and a calming, quaint setting. One thing to note is that not all the tables are at heights suitable for dining, since there are also coffee tables more optimal for small bites and beverages. While the breakfast platter was average, the coconut coffee is a signature and the thick-cut fries are substantial.
Activity: Orient Spa (Phung Hung branch)
Rating 7.9/10
Our trips to Southeast Asian cities will never be complete without a massage visit. Without shortlisting any before the trip, we happen to chance upon a newly opened Orient Spa outlet and turned out to be their first customers on their first day of opening.
Already a prominent name in the city, this outlet is conveniently located in the Old Quarter. Their existing outlets are all situated closer to Hoan Kiem Lake, so this Phung Hung branch may serve travelers in the Hanoi Train Street area better.
Due to their social media presence and established google reviews, they do cater well to international tourists with English-speaking staffs and foreign language menus. Their price list is transparent, and the packages they offer are also not too confusing for first-timers.
The therapists provided consistent pressure during our foot massage, and they can communicate with some simple English. The newly renovated room we were in is equipped with practical considerations like a wardrobe and safe. Since they are still partially renovating during our visit, we did not manage to explore the whole building. We did use the lift and the washrooms. The renovated washrooms and shower facilities are clean and modern, occupying alternate levels and attached to the building staircase.
Activity: Old Quarter
Rating 8.1/10
No sightseeing is complete without a walk around Old Quarter. This is loosely defined as the historic heart of Hanoi city, with several well-known tourist attractions clustered around it. One prominent landmark is Hoan Kiem Lake with its Ngoc Son Temple. It is also usually the central starting point for exploring the neighbouring French Quarter on the other side of the lake from the Old Quarter. A walk along the perimeter of the lake is refreshing in the cool evenings and many locals go about their own activities around the lake.
As an energetic city with a large youth population, many of the streets within Old Quarter are also teeming with cafes and boutiques. In my view, this mix of old and new is more apparent than in Ho Chi Minh City. This development makes Hanoi a destination with an exciting culinary and shopping scene. Despite the lacking public transport infrastructure, this district is still highly-walkable and can be rewarding for travelers who decide to spend the day exploring the streets.
If visiting during the festive period of Tet, the Phung Hung mural street will also be transformed into a cultural space. Events like the Spring Flower Market take place over a few weeks during this time, allowing visitors to experience the authentic Vietnamese culture through street performances and activities.
